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Water Modeling

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The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry is the lead agency determining if exposures to volatile organic compounds (such as PCE, TCE, vinyl chloride, and benzene) in drinking water are associated with adverse health outcomes among the Marines, dependents, and civilian employees who lived or worked at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Prior to 1986, some of the water systems at Camp Lejeune were contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). To determine which base housing areas received contaminated water, a water-modeling approach using historical reconstruction was necessary. The approach included modeling the groundwater flow of contaminants and the distribution of these contaminants within the water systems. Based on this information, ATSDR estimated exposures for each housing area for every month from the start of contamination until contaminated water-supply wells were permanently removed from operation.

Reconstructing Historical VOC Concentrations in Drinking Water for Epidemiological Studies at a U.S. Military Base: Summary of Results

A peer-reviewed journal article has been published that provides a summary of water-modeling results of historical monthly drinking-water concentrations of VOCS in drinking-water supplies at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Results summarized in the journal article were used in the ATSDR epidemiological studies for Camp Lejeune.

 

Tables of Estimated Drinking Water Contaminant Concentrations

These tables show the estimated monthly average levels of the contaminants in the finished drinking water from the Tarawa Terrace, Hadnot Point, and Holcomb Boulevard treatment plants.

The Tarawa Terrace plant served the Tarawa Terrace family housing until March 1987. The Hadnot Point plant served family housing at Midway Park, Paradise Point, and Berkeley Manor until June 1972, Hospital Point family housing, and barracks located at the “mainside” area of the base. The Holcomb Boulevard plant served family housing at Midway Park, Paradise Point, Berkeley Manor, and Watkins Village from June 1972 onward.

Hadnot Point-Holcomb Boulevard Reports

Results for Hadnot Point, Holcomb Boulevard, and vicinity—based on information gathering, data interpretations, and water-modeling analyses—are now presented as another series of ATSDR reports supporting the current health study.

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Tarawa Terrace Reports

Results for Tarawa Terrace—based on information gathering, data interpretations, and water-modeling analyses —show that former Marines and their families who lived in Tarawa Terrace family housing units during the period November 1957 through February 1987 received drinking water primarily contaminated with the dry-cleaning solvent tetrachloroethylene (PCE).

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DON/ATSDR Data Mining Workgroup

The Camp Lejeune Data Mining Technical Workgroup (“Workgroup”) is a joint effort between the US Department of the Navy (DON) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The Workgroup will complete the data mining effort so that ATSDR has the relevant information and data needed for ATSDR health activities currently proposed and/or being conducted at Camp Lejeune.

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Expert Panels

Expert Panel Assessing ATSDR’s Methods and Analyses for Historical Reconstruction of Groundwater Resources and Distribution of Drinking Water at Hadnot Point, Holcomb Boulevard, and Vicinity, U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

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FAQs

Water Modeling
Commonly asked questions and answers about Water Modeling at Camp Lejeune.

Additional Resources

Water Contamination Summary
Summary of the water modeling contamination situation at Camp Lejeune including water treatment plants serving base housing areas, sources of contamination, concentrations of chemicals detected, and water modeling results.

Calibrating Distribution System Models with Fire-Flow Tests [PDF - 991KB]
Field methods used to model the current water distribution system at Camp Lejeune.

Example of Water Modeling Study: Tom Rivers Study
This summary of findings was developed to provide an overview of the historical reconstruction analysis conducted by ATSDR and NJDHSS. A full description of the analysis is available in a comprehensive report.

Star-News Forum Panel Meeting on Camp Lejeune
These slides were presented at an information-sharing forum about the Camp Lejeune water contamination at Kenan Auditorium on the campus of the University of North Carolina Wilmington on August 31, 2007.


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